October 18, 2019

Photo credit by Mark Potts, VCSU Sports Information Director

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) committed 40 attack errors and was limited to .095 hitting percentage Friday evening, falling short in the North Star Athletic Association five-set marathon action at Graichen Gymnasium to Valley City State (N.D.).  The Vikings won by the set scores of 21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 27-29 and 15-9.

The Trojans fell to 13-8 overall record and 6-2 NSAA conference record.  The victory ended VCSU's eight-match losing skid tom improved to 5-14 overall record and earned its first North Star conference win of the season (1-7 NSAA record).

Dakota State looks to swing back in the winning column Saturday morning.  The Trojans visit Dickinson State (N.D.) in another North Star conference match-up.  First serve is set for 11 a.m. (Central Time)/10 a.m. (Mountain Time) at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D.

Valley City State (N.D.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL (21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 27-29, 15-9)

• Dakota State earned a 14-8 lead in the opening set and never looked back.  The Trojans widen their lead to 23-15 before the Vikings used a 6-1 run to cut DSU's lead to 24-21.  A kill by Kelsey Pearson gave the Trojans a 1-0 match lead after winning 25-21. 
• DSU hit .146 in the opening set (14 kills with 7 errors in 48 swings) compared to Valley City State .098 hitting percentage (12 kills with 8 errors in 4 attempts).
• The Trojans opened the second set with a 6-2 lead.  VCSU went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-6 lead before DSU ended the scoring drought to knot at score a 7-7.  The Vikings used an 11-2 surge – thanks to five service aces (four by Morganne Eppard) to widen their lead to 18-9.  Dakota State could not get no closer than seven points as VCSU evened the match at 1-1 after a 25-17 victory.
• DSU and VCSU went through a see-saw battle in the third set.  Tied at 20-20, the Vikings closed the set with a 5-2 run for a 25-22 victory, earning a 2-1 match lead.  Both teams had 13 kills in the third set.  Valley City State hit .171 (6 errors in 41 attempts) and held Dakota State to .064 hitting percentage (10 errors in 47 swings).
• The fourth set was much similar story with the third set by battling back and forth.  A block by Samantha Zell and Pearson gave the Trojans a set point opportunity at 24-23.  VCSU saved the set point chance by the Trojans, tying the fourth set at 24-24. 
• Knotted at 27-27, Zell smashed a kill, followed by Barbara Briceno helped DSU to force the fifth and deciding set after a 29-27 victory.  DSU outhit VCSU 17-11 in the fourth set.  The Trojans hit .070 (13 errors in 57 swings) compared to the Vikings .060 (8 errors in 50 attempts).
• Valley City State opened with a 2-0 lead in the fifth set and never trailed.  The Vikings widen their lead to 10-4 and continued its scoring surge to increase their lead to 13-5.  The Trojans used a 4-1 run to trim VCSU's lead to 14-6.  A kill by Ellie Stafford ended the match as Valley City State secured a 3-2 victory.
• VCSU outhit DSU 6-3 in the deciding set.  The Trojans hit minus .133 (5 errors in 15 attempts) compared to the Vikings .059 hitting percentage (5 errors in 17 attempts).
• Briceno posted a double-double of 18 kills and 21 digs for Dakota State.  She also had two service aces.  Zell added 11 kills.  Maddie Polzin and Hanna Jellema each tallied 10 kills.
• Rachel Johnson produced a double-double of 20 set assists and 18 digs for the Trojans.  Nicole Sarringar added 26 assists.
• Peyton Groft tallied 23 digs to lead DSU's defense.  Zell had five blocks (1 solo, 4 assists).  Briceno and Pearson each recorded four block assists.  Payton Johanneson had six block assists.
• Katie Juarez led the Vikings offense attack with 14 kills.  Stafford and Caitlyn Fischbach each had nine kills.  Bailey Nelson had eight kills.  Reagan Ingstad had a double-double of 20 assists and 11 digs.  Alexa Walby also had a double-double of 24 assists and 12 digs.
• Charlotte Huschka had 21 digs for VCSU.  Kallene Klever added 19 digs.  Eppard had a match-high six service aces.  Juarez had five blocks (1 solo, 4 assists).  Stafford added four block assists.
• Valley City State hit .135 in the match (30 errors in 185 attempts).  DSU had four more kills than VCSU (59-55).  The Vikings had 11 service aces compared to DSU six aces.  The Trojans tallied 12 team blocks, while the Vikings had eight blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director